We had no plans to leave Jamaica. Living in paradise is not always easy, remedy but our roots had grown 31 years deep. So the gnawing sense that Father was asking us to move back to Canada felt uneasy. None of us readily breaks out of our comfort zone.

But change was blowing in the wind, sale and the words of Haggai were echoing around the world in the mouths of present-day prophets: “I will shake heaven and earth…”

Interesting how we distance ourselves from the “Word.”We’re sure He’s talking to someone else, not us. Little did we realize that we were heading for some shaking and rattling to get us rolling!

One of the first lessons we had to learn was to let go. Not easy, because the response is counter-intuitive. Instinctively, when our status quo is threatened we tighten our grip on the things that give us security.

But when God starts shaking things up, the only safe response is to let it go. We need not fear for He watches over us to catch us if we slip. His intention is to break loose things that impede our moving forward.

One of dangers in life is that we too easily become comfortable and complacent. The demonstration of peace, hope and well-being is displaced by the mundane. The light and joy within dim. We trudge from day to day.

In His mercy, God shakes us out of our death spiral so we can break into abounding life. “I’ve come to ignite you with a spectacular display of life,” Jesus said. (John 10:10)

But we must choose. Either our relationship with God stays in a familiar rut or we pluck up courage to face reality. I chose the latter.

“Who are You? Show me something about You that I’ve not known. Tell me some things You share only with Your closest friends.” I’m desperate.

His answer is immediate and simple, “Okay, but first you’ll have to get rid of some old notions about Me. And we will dialogue differently from what you’re used to—what you call ‘pray.’Are you up for that?”

“Second, you’ll need to change the way you engage with My Word (the Bible). You can’t just read it casually or even dutifully. You must anticipate as you read, listen for my faint whisper as I speak to you. Focus your full attention or you’ll miss it.”

“Each morning I will give you a sword.With it you can chop through every circumstance you encounter and defeat the enemy waiting on your path to ambush you—that old snake who still hisses in your ear, “Did God really say that? You don’t really believe that, do you?”

“Third, I’m going to assay your faith, or lack of it. I will uncover the cancerous anxiety, doubt and unbelief embedded in you. You believe I exist as Creator and King of the Universe—that’s faith. But I’m bringing you to trust—living with the awareness that I am an intimate part of your life and that every single thing that happens is for your good.”

“My objective is to instill in you what John expressed when he wrote, “We have this confidence toward Him: we know that He hears us when we ask, and therefore we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

“One last thing. This is no quick fix, it’s a process. At times it will feel like open heart surgery. Sometimes it will feel like you’re going through hell. Don’t stop! Even when you feel like it—don’t quit!”

“There isa through…you will make it through, I’ll see to that. And there is an other side…I’m talking here-and-now, in-your-lifetime; and it’s beyond what you can imagine.Are you up for it?”

An alliance of four kings rebelled against an oppressive confederation of five kings. They sacked their cities, gathered the loot and headed home with the prisoners. Abram’s nephew Lot was among them.

Abram mustered his servants—318 trusted Gurkha-like warriors—pursued and conquered the unsuspecting commandos. He returned with ALL the plunder and ALL the prisoners.

Think of it. Three hundred and eighteen servants (not professional soldiers!) out-muscled an allied army of several thousand. That’s sovereign intervention!

On his way home Abram was met by Melchizedek, “king of Salem, priest of God Most High”, who pronounced blessing on him. Abram honored God and acknowledged His servant with a tithe.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, the king of Sodom told Abram, “Just give me the citizens, you keep all the booty.” Instant exorbitant riches—fair compensation for a comprehensive military victory.

But Abram refused. “I’ve made a deal with the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, to not take even a shoelace from anyone—God alone gets credit for my provision and wealth.” That’s a bold statement of faith with a courageous demonstration to back it up.

Profound affirmation after incredible military victory against impossible odds followed by daring proclamation of faith! So why would God tell Abram “Don’t be afraid”?

My guess is that God saw several issues in Abram that stemmed from a root of fear. Interestingly, like Abram, we are most vulnerable to these tentacles of fear immediately after sovereign intervention. They choke the life out of our faith.

Abram probably second-guessed his refusing the king’s offer. That was a lot of plunder, after all, and Abram was as human as you and I.

But weighing even heavier on Abram’s faith was God’s unfulfilled promise. It’d been a long wait with still no sign of a son. Yes, the military victory over the four-king alliance was a miracle, but this was personal.

physical: “I will remove or disarm people and structures that stand in the way of your forward movement and answered prayers.”

material: “I will take you and keep you out of lack and poverty.”

emotional: “I will replace all those feelings that rob you of confidence and hope.”

spiritual: “I will empower you against doubt and unbelief.”

With an Iron Dome shield like that, we can hold steady as we move step by step toward promised destiny.

Without hesitation, I certify that this Scripture is true—the Almighty, our Father, is a trustworthy shield against all fear. From our experience, I can testify that the reward of obedient faith is exceedingly great. Resist fear, embrace the Father as your shield, and then let Him surprise you with His faithfulness.

The desire to be powerful—to overcome fear—is embedded deep in the human soul. Made in our Creator’s image, we are gifted with power—the capacity to responsibly manage the earth and to creatively resolve personal issues.

Personal empowerment is like a flame. The embers of its fire must be fanned and kept ablaze. Like a seed, it must be nurtured if we would taste its satisfying fruit.

3 Turbo-Charging Actions That Empower

1. Tweak – “improve by making fine adjustments”

Personal empowerment rests on health, work-life balance and relationships. Without proper attention to these, our power to deal effectively with situations and people is compromised. The capacity to make transforming choices is not achieved by overhauling but by tweaking.

Small steps made consistently form new habits,

and new habits change old outcomes.

Instead of a crash diet to improve health, replace just one bad eating habit. A healthy lifestyle is exactly that, a style of living that is cultivated over time.

Similarly, just one “fine adjustment” to priorities at work (or at home) can dispel unnecessary stress.

3. Re-calibrate – “adjust points of reference to take external factors into account”

To maintain optimum power, goals, perspective and attitude must be re-evaluated regularly and re-calibrated as necessary. The standard by which progress is measured and the points of reference by which our course is charted must come under the scrutiny.

Does my standard truly reflect who I am becoming?

Do my points of reference keep me on track?

Goals—

Circumstances are designed to produce two outcomes.

(1) Experience which makes us wiser and stronger. Wiser—we don’t keep making the same mistakes because we learn from them. Stronger because we’ve been there, done that, so let’s move on to the next level.

(2) Clarity to see things as they really are. With distractions removed, we can see where we are heading and make the necessary adjustments to get there.

Jamaican reggae icon Jimmy Cliff says it well.

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It’s gonna be a bright , bright sunshiny day.”

Perspective—

Under the pressures of work and of personal responsibilities we easily lose sight of the bigger picture. At work, our engaging tasks demand intense focus while at home, children and spouse demand consuming attention.

Exhausted and frustrated, we blame our family for our less-than-satisfactory performance at work, and we blame our job for the hopelessly dysfunctional performance at home.

The discontent brewing within will destroy us if we don’t take external factors into account, and make some necessary adjustments in perspective. Empowerment comes with a broad, positive perspective of work and home.

“Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone.
All of the bad feelings have disappeared.
Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for.
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day.”

Attitude—

Sometimes when we’re going through hell, the ONLY thing we can control is our attitude—the way we think or feel about the situation.

When conditions are dark and overwhelming is not the time to think about goals. In that state, positive perspective is overshadowed by the encroaching storm. And I can tell you, there will be times when the storm is a Category 5 Hurricane.

Our experience of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, left us with a sober regard for one the most devastating forces of nature. There is absolutely nothing you can do but wait it out and pray!

We have since gone through personal situations that rank Category 5. It has taken several years to recover from one such devastation. (I still have mental, emotional and spiritual scars from it!)

You might be saying at this point, “Wow. I’m not so sure I can do all that personal empowerment stuff. If only there was an app.”

Well, there’s something even simpler and better than an app, and it’s already embedded in you.

“Say what?”

That’s right…simpler and better than an app…Your tongue!

The simplest, quickest and most effective way to tweak, retool and re-calibrate your life into turbocharge mode is to

(1) Speak positively about yourself as you acknowledge your strengths and weakness (which will in time also transform into strengths). Research shows that a person’s self-image is affected by the words used to talk about themselves.

(2) Use active words, especially about the future. Replace “I’m gonna try my best…” with “I will complete this task and I will do my best!”

(3) Most importantly, define your own space and your own identity with your own power words.

Failing in this, you relinquish personal power to others. They will clip your wings and confine you to a box, their box.

I urge you, don’t scratch in the dirt with the chickens. You were born to rise above the ordinary. Soar in the skies with the eagles. No limits!

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None of us knows what lies ahead. Of this we can be sure, however, we will be tested.

Some ‘tests’ are quick ‘pop quizzes’—unexpected, easily passed, designed to let us know if we are learning life’s lessons or not. Failure is readily remedied.

Others are like college exams that determine whether or not we qualify for our degree. These tests have serious consequence—they either make us or break us.

The two men in our story were severely tested.

But before we cast judgement to condemn the one for his failure and exonerate the other for his valor, let us imagine ourselves (as best we can) in their shoes and ask, Would I pass their test?

The first, after losing several jobs (through no fault of his own), found a job stocking shelves at a Home Depot. A loving husband and a good father, he worked hard to provide for his wife and three children. Every Sunday he took his family to church. Through the struggle and sacrifice, he pressed on hoping for his big break.

Then one day his number was called. He held the winning lottery ticket. Thirty-one million dollars! Distributed in cheques of $1.24 million annually over twenty-five years! Some who knew him said it was just reward for his years diligence and hardship.

With his first cheque the young man bought a ranch and horses—a boyhood dream. He established a college fund for his children’s future. He bought homes for various family members and donated money to his church. He was financially set to live the life of his dreams.

The second man, born into a wealthy New York family, had life served to him on a silver platter. While attending the best Ivy League schools, he enjoyed the high life. He toured Europe as a skilled equestrian. As an aspiring actor, this young man searched for his big break in the movies.

Then one day his number was called. He landed a leading role in what would eventually become a Hollywood blockbuster movie.

Overnight the young man became a big-name celebrity earning millions of dollars. He spent his fortune on spacious houses, fancy cars, extravagant parties and his passion for riding. He, too, had stepped into the life of his dreams.

Then the unbelievable and bizarre occurred.

In May of 1999, just two years after winning the lottery, Billie Harrell of Houston, Texas, locked himself in his bedroom, leaned his chest to the barrel of his shotgun and shot himself.

A close friend reported Harrell as saying, “winning the lottery was the worst thing that ever happened to me.”

In 1995, Christopher Reeves (the original Superman) fell from his horse during an equestrian competition. His horse balked at a simple jump sending his rider head first over the barrier.

As all riders, Reeves was well-trained how to fall to minimize injury. But with his hands tangled in the reins, he was unable to use his arms to break his fall. Reeves’ 6 foot 4 inch 210 pound body landed on his head with such impact that the top two vertebrae shattered, severing his head from the spinal cord. Doctors declared it a miracle that Reeves survived the hangman’s fracture.

Alone in the hospital, in intensive care, unable to breathe without a respirator and completely immobile, the crushing weight of his injury was unbearable.

Like Billie Harrell, Christopher Reeves stared suicide in the face.

Reeves wrote, “It dawned on me that I was going to be a huge burden to everybody, that I had ruined my life and everybody else’s. My role as a husband and the father of three children would be severely compromised, because paralysis had suddenly transformed me into a forty-two-year-old infant. I thought it would be selfish and unfair to remain alive.”

Turning to his wife Dana, he mouthed his morbid thoughts and feelings, “Maybe we should let me go.”

His wife’s knelt by his bedside, gazed into her husband’s soul and said, “You’re still you, and I love you.”

Her words spoke life and light into Reeve’s despair. The power of death was broken.

Sobering stories from which I take these five lessons.

1. Money—whether the abundance or the lack of it—does not determine quality of life nor does it guarantee happiness.

Either we learn to master it, or it will master us—no matter how much we have or don’t have.

“I have learned to be content, regardless of my circumstances, whether in plenty or in want, whether in abundance or in need.” (The Apostle Paul writing to the Philippian believers.)

“In 2002, seven years after the accident and in the year of my fiftieth birthday, I look back with almost indescribable gratitude at the moment when Dana knelt by my bedside and said, “You’re still you, and I love you.””

3. Life—regardless of circumstances—is worth living.

“Dana’s intuition about what my state of mind would be two years after the accident proved to be absolutely right: I was glad to be alive, not out of obligation to others, but because life was worth living.”

4. Relationships matter most—they are the safety net that pulls us through when the bottom drops out.

“When a catastrophe happens it’s easy to feel so sorry for yourself that you can’t even see anybody around you. But the way out is through your relationships. The way out of that misery or obsession is to focus more on what your little boy needs or what your teenagers need or what other people around you need. It’s very hard to do, and often you have to force yourself.”

5. Negativity destroys, steals and kills—guard against and avoid it at all costs.

“Not letting negativity get the upper hand is really, really critical. Not only to your mental outlook, but literally to your physical health, because if negativity’s allowed to fester, it causes health problems.”

“I have moments of anger. But am I in despair about it? No, I’m not. Despair is a very bleak word.” When he feels frustrated, he says, he turns his attention to his family, or to the numerous projects he’s immersed in. (The Guardian)

Life will test us. The stories of Billie Harrell and Christopher Reeves hint of some of the topics on the exam. I am determined to prepare.

Just to survive

We get up, often dragging ourselves out of bed at the sheer thought of another day of our demanding (unfulfilling) job—it pays the bills, but little more.

We come home after a grueling day to a demanding family—can they not understand what I go through every day, just to put food on the table?

We drop into bed for a fitful night—too exhausted and stressed to get the much-needed rejuvenation sleep is supposed to give.

The question haunts us, “Is this all there is to life?”

No simple, easy answer

The answer is not easy nor simple because life is complex.

I like Brendon Burchard’s answer. “At the end of our lives we will all ask, Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter?”

Brendon has made it his life mission to live a “fully charged life” and to help others “feel more alive, engaged, and fulfilled.”

Great. But how?

Here’s a riveting story I found that can help us get started on our quest to discover what we really want from life.

Of Stones, Pebbles and Sand

One day, an old professor of the School of Public Management in France, was invited to lecture on the topic of “Efficient Time Management” in front of a group of 15 executive managers representing the largest, most successful companies in America. The lecture was one in a series of 5 lectures conducted in one day, and the old professor was given 1 hr to lecture.

Standing in front of this group of elite managers, who were willing to write down every word that would come out of the famous professor’s mouth, the professor slowly met eyes with each manager, one by one, and finally said, “We are going to conduct an experiment”.

Stones

From under the table that stood between the professor and the listeners, the professor pulled out a big glass jar and gently placed it in front of him. Next, he pulled out from under the table a bag of stones, each the size of a tennis ball, and placed the stones one by one in the jar. He did so until there was no room to add another stone in the jar.

Lifting his gaze to the managers, the professor asked, “Is the jar full?”

The managers replied, “Yes”.

The professor paused for a moment, and replied, “Really?”

Pebbles

Once again, he reached under the table and pulled out a bag full of pebbles. Carefully, the professor poured the pebbles in and slightly rattled the jar, allowing the pebbles to slip through the larger stones, until they settled at the bottom.

Again, the professor lifted his gaze to his audience and asked, “Is the jar full?”

At this point, the managers began to understand his intentions. One replied, “Apparently not!”

Sand

“Correct”, replied the old professor, now pulling out a bag of sand from under the table. Cautiously, the professor poured the sand into the jar. The sand filled up the spaces between the stones and the pebbles.

Yet again, the professor asked, “Is the jar full?”

Without hesitation, the entire group of students replied in unison, “NO!”

“Correct”, replied the professor. And as was expected by the students, the professor reached for the pitcher of water that was on the table, and poured water in the jar until it was absolutely full. The professor now lifted his gaze once again and asked, “What great truth can we surmise from this experiment?”

With his thoughts on the lecture topic, one manager quickly replied, “We learn that as full as our schedules may appear, if we only increase our effort, it is always possible to add more meetings and tasks.”

The Lesson

“No”, replied the professor. “The great truth that we can conclude from this experiment is:

If we don’t put all the larger stones in the jar first, we will never be able to fit all of them later.”

The auditorium fell silent, as every manager processed the significance of the professor’s words in their entirety.

The old professor continued, “What are the large stones in your life? Health? Family? Friends? Your goals? Doing what you love? Fighting for a Cause? Taking time for yourself?

What we must remember is that it is most important to include the larger stones in our lives, because if we don’t do so, we are likely to miss out on life altogether. If we give priority to the smaller things in life (pebbles & sand), our lives will be filled up with less important things, leaving little or no time for the things in our lives that are most important to us.

Because of this, never forget to ask yourself, What are the Large Stones in your Life? And once you identify them, be sure to put them first in your Jar of Life.”

With a warm wave of his hand, the professor bid farewell to the managers, and slowly walked out of the room.

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The Greek philosopher Thales was asked what is the most difficult thing.

“To know yourself,” was his reply.

Perhaps that is why few of us look at ourselves in the mirror and ask, “Who am I?” It’s a difficult question to answer.

We say, “I’m a teacher.” or “I’m a stay-at-home mom.” But that is what we do, not who we are.

Who we are is not so much about what we do

but rather why and how we do it.

Values filter our responses and attitudes. ‘Go-to’ favorites emerge as core values. Through habit, these become deeply embedded standards by which we measure our life. Reactions and impulses that seem natural and involuntary reflect our core values.

Clearly defined core values keep us balanced and on track. Without them, we are like a nuclear reactor whose malfunctioning core cannot control the reactions and the energy (heat) produced by circumstances. The potential result is a Chernobyl disaster.

An extensive list of values is not particularly helpful; in fact, it’s overwhelming. Five carefully selected values can bring clarity and provide a solid base on which to build a meaningful life.

Why 5 instead of 10 or 15?

Diligently creating a habit with just a few qualities is far more effective than trying to manage too many. It’s like walking—one step at a time. Or like building—one brick at a time.

When David faced Goliath, he gathered 5 stones. Someone has said, 1 for Goliath and 4 more to fell each of his brothers! I like that pre-emptive thought.

My 5 core values are the weapons

that conquer every giant

that taunts and intimidates me.

Core values are of greatest effect when inter-woven, inter-active and operating in balance. They bring stability and create the fabric of my being.

The 5 core values I choose to define myself

I am industrious.

I work hard, I work smart, I work with enthusiasm.

When I have a job to do, a task to accomplish, or an assignment to complete, I am fully engaged, totally focused and completely absorbed.

But I am not a workaholic. I choose to be master not slave of my work.

Work, even hard work, is just work, often better done by a robot or a machine.

But…

Human energy, dedication and drive

elevate work to the glorious purpose

for which it was entrusted to humankind

by their Creator.

I am self-reliant.

I accept full responsibility for my life. No one else is to blame for who I am, what I do or how I live. I am the product of my own choices, made of my own free will.

Yet I am not independent. My most successful and productive choices are made…

when I heed the sound advice of my elders and mentors,

when I consider the feedback of friends and peers,

when I stop to help others along the way, particularly the generation that follows me,

when I am interdependent.

I am who I am today,

having climbed on many a broad shoulder

pulled up by many a helping hand.

I am a man of integrity.

Aiming for complete harmony in what I think, say and do, I strive to be honest, transparent and trustworthy—a man of my word.

My moral code is positive and simple with lots of freedom for creative expression:

Love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength (resources) and all my mind,

Love my neighbor (fellow human beings) as I love myself,

Love justice (standing up and speaking out for what is right) and mercy (compassion) as I walk humbly with my God.

I do not compare myself to anyone else,

for in the end I answer to God for

how well I lived, loved and mattered.

I respectthe thoughts, feelings, wishes, rights and property of others.

If it is true that each of us is created in the image and likeness of our Creator, then there must be a measure of goodness in every human being. The image of our Creator is simply a little more tarnished, the likeness a little more distorted, in some than others.

Jesus looked beyond the faults of even the worst sinners to perceive the creative destiny hidden in each fragmented life. I am learning to do the same.

Respect moves me to accept each in his own right,

and stand up for those too weak or too afraid

to defend themselves.

I cannot in good conscience live only for myself.

My love springs from deep gratitude.

My relationship with God is not distant nor religious. Ours is a vibrant Father-son love that grows daily as we share life together.

There are many, especially my family, who have enriched me. Therefore, I value each person I meet. Every encounter is an opportunity to bless and be blessed, to give and to receive.

Who can know how many angels I’ve entertained in these ‘chance encounters’?

Beyond the many hardships,

there is a certain beauty and joy in living.

George Bernard Shaw said,

“Life isn’t about finding yourself; Life is about creating yourself.”

Core values determine the life you create.

Choose them carefully, you are a masterpiece in progress.

St. Francis of Assisi says it well in his prayer.

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love;Where there is injury, pardon;Where there is doubt, faith;Where there is despair, hope;Where there is darkness, light;Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekTo be consoled as to console,To be understood as to understand,To be loved as to love;For it is in giving that we receive;It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.“